Former State Rep. Ricky Hardy Implies Board Member Greg Awbrey Is ‘Racist’

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL) -- Former state representative Ricky Hardy implied at Wednesday night's Lafayette Parish School Board meeting that District 6 Greg Awbrey's proposal to dismiss the District Attorney as the board's general counsel was racially motivated.

"If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it is a duck," Hardy said.

Hardy was immediately chastised by Hunter Beasley, District 8, who said board meetings were not the forum for expressing personal opinions about individual board members. Hardy said since Awbrey was a public official, his criticisms were relevant.

Awbrey's introductory proposal sought to dismiss the District Attorney's Office, in particular Assistant District Attorney Roger Hamilton, as the board's general counsel.

Hamilton has come under fire recently for a letter he sent to Attorney General Buddy Caldwell that stated that a board investigation into some alleged actions by Cooper was unwarranted.

Awbrey characterized that letter as "sabotage," and indicated that any other business would terminate such an employee from its payroll.